Connecting Singles^® Forums 100% Free Online Dating

here in the UK the health service is free(ish) they take money from your wages.
it may not be perfect but i wouldn't want the worry of paying for insurance.

I pay $67.00 a month now for health insurance, what it will be under this bill, I don't know. This Bill has many problems!

Hmmmm... Just had a thought: what about those millions of people who don't file taxes? I wonder what the IRS (which I believe is supposed to be the collection agency in Obama's healthcare scheme) will do about them. Should be interesting.

If you're going to make a poll, why do you editorialize the poll choices? Your poll asked a simple question "Can you afford health insurance for your entire family?" It only requires a YES or NO answer. If you want to make a statement, go ahead but at least keep the poll pure or it's just one more bullshit worthless poll that half the readers wont vote on.


Yes, and still have money to spend
No, I barely make ends meet now
If the health bill passes, I may relocate

Welcome to the real world, people in Europe have had to pay for their health for years, unlike Americans who had it paid for by the company they worked for, sorry but you get no sympathy from Italy etc. Best advice I can give you is either don't get married or just have one child, which will also help to keep the population from overloading.
Bets make sure

I have health insurance. I pay for health insurance. I can afford it.

We have the trusty ole NHS

hell, no, but i have enough for the funerals for everybody i care.

That is a lot really. Who in the average home can pay out an extra 800 or so dollars a month? I know the minimum wage here is 6.50 an hour. That is two months pay to have health insurance, since 35% is taken out in taxes. They would have to raise minimum wages to $15 an hour here. The thing about insurance rates is they don't change state to state for health care or fit the economy in each State. So people would be paying anywhere from 600 to 800 just for one person, not including their wives or children they have.
A lot people will simply quit their jobs and file for welfare to keep out of jail for not buying health insurance.

Well I know in Europe they have to pay for it anyway with their wages, but they all make 5 times more than most Americans do.
Their wages fit their inflation and their insurance payout doesn't hurt them as bad. Here it would mean almost two months of pay.

There are places that pay out more in different States, but not in the Northwest. I can see where some States will just separate from the Union to avoid any Federal Law to buy health insurance since so many can't afford it. Or the jails will be so full of poor people that the Government will tax working people more so the Government can pay for more jails and to feed the poor who get sent to jail.
Add that onto what you make and you are poor too, then more go to jail because they can't pay their taxes or insurance. What a mess.

In the UK, we have the National Health Service. It started 60 years ago and when it was first thought about there was a hell of a lot of resistance from doctors who thought it beneath them to 'work for the state' and who liked to work, and charge fees, privately. Because of the way it was, most of the population of the UK were ill, infant mortality was high, people were desperate.

Once the NHS bill was approved, the UK government was astounded at the sheer numbers of people turning up at clinics for treatment. They didn't realise just how poorly the nation had become. And when you consider that we had just come through a world war, with food shortages and other hardships, it's not surprising people were so ill.

The service is paid for from our taxes and National Insurance. For the average wage earner that amounts to a total deduction of around 32% (give or take).

Now though, the NHS is under a lot of strain. People have taken the p*ss somewhat. We've had lots of health tourists taking advantage of the system plus we have had a lot of immigration which has also put a strain on the system. To add to that, the NHS has to keep up with the latest developments in medicine - at huge cost. People expect the best and complain when they don't get it. With our population now at around 60+ million, the system cannot cope without more financial support. People out of work no longer contribute, and so on.... We get only basic care for dentistry but some payment is required for that. Same with eyecare (eg if you need specs etc).

In saying this, I wouldn't change it for anything. I think we should all pay a bit more towards it, but I think that would generate a lot of resentment from some people.

I thought Obama was going to try and implement a similar system? You shouldn't jail people for not being able to pay - what sort of politics is that; sounds regressive to me? But in the States you have given too much power to the large Healthcare businesses - and they call the shots - don't they? Bit like the doctors tried to do in UK in 1948.

Good luck with it.

Good post. I agree. I live in the EU and am covered by universal health care. Income taxes are abour 32% but that isn't just for health care, it is the total of what you pay in taxes, for all services, local and national--roads, police, fire, emergency, parks, etc. I haven't used it much as I am quite healthy. It covers basic dental and eye care as well. I think Americans are being quite ridiculous about their fears over universal health care. I hope once you have it for a while and get used to it, you will see what a benefit it is.

You may have misread Pas, I wrote $67.00 a month, not $670.00.

One huge problem is that there is little competition in many states between insurance co's. Some can't offer services in some states, etc. This leads to a monopoly of one co. in a specific state, driving up prices. It depends on what state you live in and it's rules as to what services one can expect, whcih needs to be changed. However, insurance co's and their allies in Congress don't want that.

What about the 150 million Americans who don't pay ANY taxes?

My health insurance just went up to $283.17 per month, but I get a $236.73 discount if I pay it annually. Consequently I pay it annually. I know that, I plan on it by putting so much aside every month so I can pay annually and take the discounts. Let's see, why did I only have 1 kid, because that is what I could afford. Think ahead, plan ahead and work within the perameters available.

Excuse me, I`m a bit confused. Are you referring to the US or to Finnland?

I think he means the U.S. Clara.

is care rationed and how long do you have to wait for surgery in the UK

In Denmark we have free health care and the cost is paid by our taxes. I am very proud of paying my taxs so all human beings living in Denmark are able to have a propper health care when ill and no body have to die becasue they cant afford those! I rather paying more in taxes even instead of being happy a bout keeping more money in my pockets and then if seriously ill loosing all I got and more and still cant afford it and ending dead or handicapped or living as homeless for the rest of my life!

Each and every time right winged stupied governments taking over here in Denmark, they try to destroy this fabulous system but no matter what they do and say a great majority of danes will never want to be with out free health care and before is too late the governments are changed and sent to their Ever mad and sad shame corners!

Once you got it you will never ever want to be with out it and the one and only who fights a gainst this system with all they got is the big capital which wants to make more money out of human beings missory and because they know when human beings are ill then they will have to pay what ever to be saved, unless good governments stopping the greed of health industry and creating a free health care system for all !

When Canada years a go treid to have a free health care all began in a single hospital and as an idea of the grand father of Kiefer Sutherland... the stupied right winged there told the exact same the right winged America is telling now on days and since Obama won the election and before that, a bout the great danger of Communism is taking over and reds are going to Eat you all and the country will go bank rupted and the exact same BS told by the republicans in America for ever and still... the government of canada took the challenge seriuosly and a dream became reality and now... republican ladies and gents... do what ever you want and send any kind of anti free health care propoganda you want to your neighboring country Canada but still all you get form a great majority of Canadians is being laughed at plus a

All they keep saying a bout the free health care when trying their best to critisise is waiting lists and stuff and this is not that bad at all and the system works a lot better than in other countries with out a free health care any way, where people are actually dying or loosing body parts ot becoming handicapped for life or commiting crime even to get the money for getting medical attention for them selves or for their families

All modern and civilised nations and of course the United states of America must have a fair health care system for all inhabitants of the country and as a matter of fact around 6-7 procent of the countriy,s total tax income should be enough to cover all people living in a country because serious illnesses which costing a lot of money are not that common any way in human population around the world.

The most sad part of the whole thing is... many of those whose lives is directly or indirectly destroyed because of the current unfair health care systemmin America for exapmple are telling the same as the big capital health care indsutry in America an allowing them selves being deceived of their Fear propoganda, but hoepfully many of the same folks will be able to see how bad America needs the reforms and how less complicated life will be for most americans when the reforms certaily begin to work.

Of course I can, I live in Norway...